Antioch Rotarians Gloria Martin and Christine O’Brien present dictionaries to third graders at Kimball Elementary, last October. Photos by Minh Nguyen

By Milanka Schneiderman

Every year, the Antioch Rotary Club has had a goal of providing every third grader in Antioch public schools with their own personal dictionary. This year, the club achieved their goal and every third grader will receive a hardbound dictionary that they may keep and use as their own personal reference book throughout their educational years.

“Most children today do not own a personal dictionary and some do not have access to one in their home,” said Bernie Szalej, President of the Antioch Rotary Club. “The Antioch Rotary wants to reach out to these children in this small way to enrich their learning.”

Dr. Stacey Duckett and Club President Bernie Szalaj prepare the dictionaries for distribution on March 19.

The Dictionary Project encourages children to use dictionaries so that they will be able to use the English language effectively during their school years and lifetime.

Last year, the club’s Annual Golf Tournament and its sponsors were a huge part of the success of this year’s Dictionary Project along with recent contributions by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Higgins Chapel.

Serving the Antioch community since 1947, the Antioch Rotary Club, one of 33,000 clubs throughtout the world is a non-profit service organization. The club has a reputation for excellence in community projects, from its free dictionaries for third-graders, coats for kids, to providing scholarships for our local high school graduates. The club also offers programs for high school students such as Interact and International Youth Exchange.

This year, the 22nd Annual Golf Tournament will be on May 1^st at the Lone Tree Golf Course and Event Center.

“Without our Annual Golf Tournament, we wouldn’t be able provide our programs and scholarships for youths in the Antioch schools; our children are our future and the Rotary couldn’t do these projects without the community support of our tournament,” Szalej stated. “We greatly appreciate the community support for our golf tournament. These sponsors along with Rotarians make our Dictionary Project and other projects and programs throughout the year, possible.”

Club member and Antioch School Board Trustee Barbara Cowan delivers boxes of dictionaries to an Antioch elementary school on March 19.

Entry fee is $140.00 per golfer which includes a golf windbreaker, balls, green fees, cart, tee prizes and lunch.

The Antioch Rotary Club is looking for sponsors for this event, as well as donations of raffle prizes. Sponsorship levels range from: a Platinum membership of $1,500 for your company name on a billboard with 8 golfers, a Gold sponsorship level for $1,000 for your company name on a billboard along with 4 golfers, a Silver sponsorship level for $750 for your company name on a billboard along with 2 golfers and a Bronze sponsorship level for $500 for your company name on a billboard along with 1 golfer and a Copper sponsorship level for $250 for your company name on a billboard. Bernie Szalej, President, Antioch Rotary says that “I am hoping our business community will reach out and give back to our local community by supporting our golf tournament while advertising their business and having a fun day with others.”

Online registration is available for golfers at www.LoneTreeGolfCourse.com under “Upcoming Events.” Businesses or individuals interested in Antioch Rotary or sponsorship in the tournament can contact Milanka Schneiderman at Milanka13@msn.com for more information or visit www.AntiochRotaryClub.com or their Facebook page, under the name Rotary Club of Antioch, California.

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla announced today that her campaign has received the endorsements of the TriValley and Diablo Valley Democratic Clubs, adding to the growing unity behind Bonilla’s campaign – including earning the support of former Assemblymember and special election opponent Joan Buchanan and groups that had supported her campaign.

“Susan Bonilla is the candidate we can count on to champion public education and oppose the hugely expensive and environmentally hazardous double tunnel project.” Diablo Valley Dems President Karen Cohen said.

Tri-Valley Dems President Ellis Goldberg added, “Susan Bonilla’s record and experience made endorsing her an easy choice for club members.”

In addition, Congressman Eric Swalwell, who represents the TriValley and San Ramon in the House of Represententatives, also endorsed Bonilla, this week.

Swalwell’s endorsement continues the rapidly expanding support and momentum that Bonilla’s campaign has built in the Tri-Valley, since emerging in the top-two special election runoff election.

“Susan Bonilla is an effective coalition builder who is solving problems and getting results for East Bay families. She’s a proven leader who has improved local schools, balanced budgets, and supported small business growth in our region,” Swalwell said. “Susan Bonilla is the best choice for Tri-Valley families and I’m proud to endorse her for State Senate.”

Bonilla’s campaign recently announced the endorsement of former State Senator and Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, former Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, former Orinda Mayor Gregg Wheatland, and the California Democratic Legislative Women’s Caucus’s broad coalition of Assemblywomen and State Senators.

For the complete list of Bonilla’s endorsements and more information about her campaign, visit www.susanbonilla.com.

By Acting Lieutenant T. Schnitzius #2840, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Monday, March 23, 2015 at 9:34 AM the Antioch Police received a call of an attempted kidnapping that occurred on Sagebrush Drive. A 16-year-old student reported to school staff that while walking to school a male in a white four door Mazda with no plates pulled alongside her and tried to convince her to get in his car. The victim refused and continued walking. The suspect followed in his car and after a short distance pulled over, got out of his vehicle, and grabbed the victim by her arm, again trying to convince her to get in his car. The victim broke free and the suspect fled the area. Upon arrival at school the victim reported the incident to school staff who in turn sent out a district notification.

A second victim came forward after hearing the announcement and reported a similar incident with the same suspect and vehicle description which occurred a month ago and was not reported to police. The second victim was able to provide officers with information regarding where she had seen the suspect vehicle on prior occasions. Officers responded to the area of Mt. Conness Way and located the vehicle occupied by the suspect. The victims were brought to the scene and both positively identified the suspect, 21-year-old Javonn Allen, who was arrested.

If you witnessed this accident and/or have information please contact the Antioch Police Department. You may also submit an anonymous tip by texting 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

The Instrumental Hits from TV’s MAD MEN Era with The Mads Tolling Quartet and Guest Vocalist Nicholas Crossen

Internationally renowned violinist Mads Tolling makes his El Campanil Theatre debut on Sunday, April 12 at 3pm with his program entitled Mads Men: A Celebration of Instrumental Hits from the 1960’s Mad Men Era. The program includes popular TV & Movie Themes and Top 10 hit recordings ranging from “Mission Impossible”, “The Pink Panther”, and “Meet The Flintstones” to “Georgia On My Mind” and “Classical Gas.”

Antioch’s Nicholas Crossen (“American Idol” contestant, Season 12) is the Guest Vocalist to perform classics including the Theme from “A Summer Place”, “A Time For Us” (from Romeo & Juliet), “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), and “What A Wonderful World.”

Having recently and triumphantly debuted his Violin Concerto composition with The Oakland East Bay Symphony, Mads is originally from Copenhagen, Denmark.  He won two Grammy Awards for Best Classical Crossover albums, was nominated for a third Grammy this year, and is a featured Yamaha Artist.

He has appeared at many of the world’s most prestigious Jazz Festivals and performance venues, and continues to tour nationally and internationally with over 1,000 concert appearances to his credit from around the globe.  He is a former member of both Turtle Island Quartet and Stanley Clarke’s band.

Joining Mads in his Mads Tolling Quartet are world-class musicians Colin Hogan at piano, Sam Bevan on bass, and Eric Garland on drums.

Mads Tolling

Two-Time Grammy Award Winner MADS TOLLING

MADS MEN: A Celebration of Instrumental Hits from the 60’s Mad Men Era

with local Guest Vocalist Nicholas Crossen

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 at 3pm

El Campanil Theatre

602 W. Second Street, Antioch CA 94509

Box Office: (925) 757-9500

Tickets: Adults $25, Seniors $20, Students $10

(Youth under 18: Free when accompanied by an Adult or Senior)

www.elcampaniltheatre.com/mads-tolling.html

Force back down to 87 sworn officers. Reported numbers don’t match, again.

By Barbara Zivica

The Antioch Police Department remains understaffed despite passage of Measure C, a one half cent increase in sales in 2013 and Measure O, a business license tax affecting rental properties in 2014. Excuses, excuses.

Back in June, 2013 the department was saying they had 87 full-time, sworn police officers, only 75 who were at full duty capacity although they had money to hire 102 officers. The excuse was that the application process was so rigorous they couldn’t hire fast enough to replace those who retired or quit. I called the excuse absurd because the department has had the same hiring process for years.

In July of 2014 Chief Allan Cantando stated that staffing was currently at 88 sworn officers and “Antioch is the second most populous city in Contra Costa County. Concord, which is the most populous city currently has 148 sworn officers, Richmond, the third most populous city currently has 190 sworn officers.” The same month William Dee, President of APOA, stated that Antioch was recently deemed the 4th Most Dangerous City in California per FBI statistics.

According to the recently released Sales Tax Citizens Oversight Committee Report, “At present Antioch has 87 sworn police officers and one per diem Police Captain This is five more officers than Antioch had in October 2013 based on information given to the committee.”

This statement obviously does not jive with reports given by APD to Council. (see above) Note Chief Cantando’s excuse now is that the problem is not a lack of applicants, it’s a lack of quality applicants who fall out during the hiring process. I query this excuse also, although there may a kernel of truth in that quality candidates just may not want to work in Antioch. I can’t say I blame them.

Although the Bay Area economy is on the rebound, many Antioch residents have either moved to neighboring jurisdictions or have announced their intent to. Reasons include the higher sales tax, abundance of empty commercial spaces, lack of good restaurants and the continuing crime problems, none of which have improved since Wade Harper, who promised the hiring of 22 more police officers, took office. (The Mayor, who was recently served with a recall petition, just announced his intention to run for re-election in 2016.)

As for Chief Cantando, who has been on the force since 1987, I suspect he is at or nearing retirement age. When he does leave, despite many excellent officers on the force, I sincerely hope the City Manager and Council doesn’t promote from within the department, searching instead to hire a strong chief, like former Chief Jim Hyde, someone who has no prior alliances in the City and who can view our continuing crime problems more objectively and effectively.

Audio Xtreme Sounds owner John Mo displays some of the accessories they offer.

By Allen Payton

If you want a new car stereo in Antioch, then drive on down A Street to the new location of Audio Xtreme Sounds.

Started in June, 2014 by John Mo, who is married and about to become a father for the first time, the store was recently relocated from the Antioch Square Shopping Center, for greater visibility and access to customers. Now they’re located at 1516 A Street, across from Little Manuel’s restaurant.

Some of the car stereo speakers on display at the store.

“We located in Antioch because we saw the opportunity,” John said. “We offer products and services that are priced right. So, there’s no need to go anywhere else.”

Audio Xtreme Sounds offers name brand products such as Pioneer, Alpine, JVC and Kicker. They also sell and install car alarms and video, GPS and navigation, plus custom rims, tires, window tinting and accessories.

They’re currently offering a buy one, get one free special on Kicker and Rockford Fosgate speakers.

You can also shop online, before you stop in, on their website at www.Audio-Xtreme.com or call (925) 777-0577 and ask for either John or Reg.

Put there combined 25 years experience and expertise to work for you and stop by, today.

“We look forward to serving everyone at our new location,” John added.